WITH THE RED CROSS IN FLANDERS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2524, 27 July 1915, Page 2

WITH THE RED CROSS IN FLANDERS

TERRIFYING EXPERIENCES

PRIVATE'S LETTER HOME

A Marlborough resident lias forwarded the following letters received from his brother, a private ill the Royal Army Medical Corps in Flanders:—

"Yes, the general aspect of things is very good. \\ r e move slowly, but surely, mid the last big engagement appears to have broken the enemy's ■ back. The slaughter was awful. We were the first ambulance into Neuve Chapelle, and we had a very lively time clearing away suffering Immunity and dodging 'Jack Johnsons.' Bodies are as plentiful as pebbles 011 the sea beach. Every man, whether fndiaii or English, whether as a fighter or ti patient, deserves the V.C.; they all worked to a finish,. One case in particular I shall always remember. A line Scots Guai'sdman we brought in from the field after lying for four days without food ntjd having six wounds, all bad! not a, moan, groan, or'complaint; took it all cheerfully and as a matter of course. We made as big a fuss of him as we could and time would allow, but I was not the only one who thanked God I was an Englishman -when we looked at this monumeut nf pluck and national spirit. At present we are standing by and having a .rest, which is very welcome, •although our billets aro not so comfortable as previously experienced. About 50 of us sleep in a toft over a cowshed, with a conorete floor and minus many tiles in the roof, but active service being the real thing, I do not expect a feather bed. "We have established several hospitals since landing here, and I have been most , things. At t'lio last hospital I was in tho operating theatre: very gory, but very interesting. .Before every big engagement every man goes .into the field as a bearer, and then his troubles start. Two days and one night on six biscuits Have liad numerous escapes and many times been within a .fraction, of departing from this earth. The 'Jack Johnsons' are terrible affairs; only earth and stones have so far struck me. "The type of German on our front I am v.ery disappointed with. He is small," in fact undersized, no particular sliape. His officers'are fine men. As we have captured hundreds, I have seen them in big batches, and they do not require a lot of persuading, to surrender." Later. • Since writing, .you last I have been through most terrifying experiences. All of us. have been taken out of ull hospital duties, another lot.coming along to work the hospital. Everyone had to bo a bearer. I had an eight miles' walk and straight into the trenches, and the ?reat four days' battlo started, ily word,' the guns were deafening. Our trench was about 4ft. wide and sft. deep, rifle-five and shells continually passing over us, and now and again a "Jack Johnson" would send a dozen or so to their last.mess. We slept where we stood, and when we 'could, and for tiro days and two nights'not a single minute's ■ rest., ■ After ' dark wo stealthily emerged on our hands and kcee3, dragging stretchers, etc.; all in' mud and water, to succour poor humanity. Have been in between our enemy's and °ur own lines, dropping on faces immediately. a.stir or another shell made a show, as this frequently saves your life, particles.of shells flying in'all direotions. Then the rides and magazines have a go at us. Night before last we were on our faces for quite half an. hour, and actually went <o sleep, exhausted, and they simply had to kick me as I snored so loudly. 1 was quite oblivious to all guns, and this episodo has greatly amused our fellows. Same night had another hour on our faces in tho soft mud, with dead bodies of our enemies -within a yard of us. No chance to bury the dead in front of the firing line.

Have frequently been covered with earth when the shells have pitched so close to me, but our fellows have pushed the enemy back five miles and have captured a village which 1 we (the 26th)\were the first ambulance to' enter. Wo stumbled over bodies of both friend and-foe. The slaughter was appalling. Tho enemy's' .trenches were piled sft. to the top with dead bodies. We mowed fhem down like corn; they must have lost 15" to 1 of ours. They surrender on the very first opportunity, and I don't blame them; they are a poor lot to look at. Tho officers are fine men. I saw 900 in one herd, and have had conversations with' plenty of them. They speak English fairly well, but still have great faith in their Kai9er. '

A sergeant of ours and myself had a very - narrow, escape when going from trenches to dressing station. A "Jack Johnson" pitched within 12 yards of us, and we dropped on our faces, and-by a merciful Providence' only dirt struck us and not shell splinters. Another day a shell dropped (a coal-box shell) into our wagon, and blow everything to bits. It was a gruesome sight. Before going-into the-trenches we passed part of the'night in a Imrn, and they started to shell us at daybreak. My word, I thought I was at last to go "West." The place then rocked and fell, and we bolted for. siny hole we could find. I got into'a stream up to my waist. > The .last day there, the French''troops were relieved, all jolly and bright, laugh'-, ing and singing as they swing..off for,a week's rest, many jolly fellows I knew. When l-J miles away oil the main road a "Jack Johnson".fell in their midst, and 28 were blown to atoms and 3t> wounded. We had our work cut out, I can tell you. The sight was awful, and proved too great for many. One of my pals in the 2Gth went mad, and it is a hopeless case* Our oavalry, got amongst the enemy last night and cut them up terribly—in fact, annihilated them. When in the tranches the water we had in a pail had to do for three days, and used by six men. I sliaved in hot tea. (